Brisher, Camilla L. (Jones) was born in Nashville, Tennessee, April 1, 1937. She is the oldest of five siblings. They all graduated from Cameron High School in Nashville, Tennessee. Camilla graduated as valedictorian of the class of 1945. She then matriculated to Vanderbilt University where she graduated with a double major in physics and chemistry. Camilla married Vernon J. Brisher June 14, 1952. They raised three boys, William, Calton, and Logan. Vernon left the family in 1962. Camilla worked with various oil companies as an engineer, helping to raise production in the oil fields in Oklahoma and Texas. She received both her masters (in engineering) and her doctorate (in workplace safety) from Vanderbilt. She moved into the field of workplace safety overseeing safety in several national companies. She oversaw the work of OSHA in the southeast until her retirement. She currently works as an adjunct professor at Nashville Medvance and is in charge of their workplace safety program nationwide.